The KINGDOM CLARION

By Larry W. King

Volume II, Number IX

April 16, 2009

 

 

A Pitifully Clean Slate

“He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.  Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.”  – Psalm 103: 10, 12-13 (KJV)

 

With this issue, I’ve been writing The Kingdom Clarion for more than five months now.  I sincerely thank you, faithful reader, for sticking by and with me as I have scooted, slipped, stumbled, crawled and slowly but unsurely taken first steps into my present state as – at least I hope and believe - a more engaging and provocative writer and correspondent.     

While I love writing, it’s a relatively new pursuit for me.  MUSIC has been my passion since I was a youngster in Columbus, Ohio studying the bassoon.  Thankfully, that passion – along with tremendous support, encouragement and love from my late parents, Dr. Norman W. and Mrs. Imogene L. King - afforded me a scholarship to a well-reputed conservatory and a good college education.  Moreover, it continues to be driving force in my life today.  Playing guitar, singing and being a musician is not so much something I DO, as it is something I AM.  Indeed, I am deeply grateful for the BLESSING of observing life through the wonderfully revealing, transparent windows of rhythm, timbre, melody, harmony and counterpoint.

Some of you have known me for many years.  As such, you know about my history as a professional musician, band member and nightclub singer in Denver and around the Rocky Mountain region.  And now it’s confession time …

It may be hard for you to believe, but I haven’t always been the paradigm of Christian virtue and exemplar of Godly living you know today.  OK, for those of you still rolling on the floor, holding your stomachs, laughing uncontrollably, I FEEL yawl … I WAS TOO!  HAHAHAHAHA!!  Sometimes, I just flat-out AMUSE myself.  ;>)

But seriously, like everyone else, I have a past.  Thankfully, mine has involved some truly TERRIFIC music, including playing for/with Eartha Kitt, Carol Lawrence, Nell Carter, The Righteous Brothers, Bob & Dolores Hope, Charley Pride, Stanley Clarke, The GAP Band, Ronnie Laws, Larry Dunn, The Columbus and Cincinnati Symphonies, Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra, Denver Mayor Wellington Webb, Colorado Governor Roy Roemer, President Gerald Ford and more.  I’m quite proud of those experiences.  However, what I am NOT proud of is the addiction to drugs and alcohol, the sexual misconduct and womanizing which accompanied them.  I know you’re all thinking, “geez, Lareezy must be the VERY FIRST musician/singer to have such behavioral problems, Oh My Dear …”.  Yes shocked reader, let the truth finally be told.  I was a musician who had some *gasp* mad issues!

But the wondrous thing about God’s forgiveness, mercy and saving grace is it allows us to BURY our past, rather than it burying us – in overwhelming guilt or remorse, paralyzing self-pity, stagnating hopelessness and pernicious, crippling depression (that dear reader is another Clarion issue all by itself!).  Due to my sordid, sinful past, the verse “He has removed our sins from us as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12 – New Living Translation), is one of the most personally comforting affirmations in all scripture.  My constant testimony is, “I’m not what I ought to be, but thank God, I’m not what I used to be!”

At the end of the day, despite my MANY shortcomings, faults, foibles, transgressions, idiosyncrasies, misdeeds and SINS, God still loves me.  He still forgives me – DAILY!  Plus, He cares about me enough to send the very best – no, not a Hallmark greeting card! - His precious Holy Spirit to transform my thoughts, mend my broken psyche and give me second (and third and fourth and fifth and Nth) chance at walking in a new, positive, sober, abundant, hopeful, joyous, empowered and faithful LIFE.  Hallelujah! Moreover, as my loving, heavenly Father, He still pities me.  Verse 12 of our text is sometimes translated, “The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him” (NLT).  This fledgling writer is confident that Patriarchal tenderness and compassion is the kind of pity we ALL could use more of.  I am SO blissfully grateful that Almighty God saved me, erased my past and granted me a pitifully clean slate!

Treasured reader, REJOICE!  If our Lord did it for me, HE WILL SURELY DO IT FOR YOU!!

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Larry W. King is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (Magna cum Laude) and heads the Denver-based music group, Kingdom Kru.  He serves as Minister of Music at Faith Community Baptist Church under the leadership of co-pastors Rev. Douglas and Katherine Farley.